Power plane



G. HEIMSATH POWER PLANE Filed June e, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l InventarAttorney n Feb l936. Y G, HElMSATH 2,036,526

POWER PLANE Filed June 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W fi Inventai- AttomeyPatented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in powerplanes particularly for surfacing wood but it will be understood, ofcourse, that a plane constructed in accordance with the presentinvention may be used for any purpose for which it may be found adaptedand desirable.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in a vpower planeofthe type including a plurality of rotary cutters driven by an electricmotor, a novel construction, combination and arrangement of partswhereby said cutters and the motor may be expeditiously adjusted as aunit as desired.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a powerplane of the aforementioned character, novel means for automaticallyraising the cutters to inoperative or retracted position when the planeis raised out of engagement with the work on the return stroke ormovement in a manner to prevent marking or spoiling said work.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a power plane of theaforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efcient and reliable in use,compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a powerplane constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in bottom plan of the invention.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical transverse section, taken substantiallyon the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the inven- O tion which has been illustrated comprises abase I of suitable metal having formed integrally therewith upstandingside flanges 2. At an intermediate point, the base I is provided with atransverse opening 3 which extends upwardly in the side flanges 2, asillustrated to advantage in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. Mounted onthe forward portion of the base I is a handle 4.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the sideflanges 2 have formed thereon, adjacent the upwardly extending endportions 5 of the opening 3, vertical guide ribs 6. Mounted for slidingadjustment on the guide ribs 6 between the side flanges 2 is a metallicframe l upon which an electric motor 8 is secured in a verticalposition. It will bc noted that the 10 sides of the frame 'I havechannels formed therein which accommodate the guide ribs 6.

The frame I includes a pair of horizontally extending, vertically spacediianges 9 through which the shaft I9 of the electric motor 8 rotat- 15ably extends. Also journaled in the flanges 9 on opposite sides of themotor shaft I9 are shafts II (see Figure 5). The shafts II are connectedto the motor shaft I0 for rotation in unison therewith by gears I2 whichare xed on said 20 shafts between the flanges 9. Removably secured onthe lower end portions of the shafts III and II for rotation in ahorizontal plane are multiple bladed cutters I3. Of course, the cuttersI3 are operable in the opening 3 for engagement 25 with the work. Asindicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the construction and arrangementof the members I 3 is such that the cuts made thereby overlap. It willbe noted that the upwardly extending end portions 5 of the opening 3accom- 30 modate the outermost gears I2 and the outer cutters I3. Thereference numeral I4 designates a switch which is secured on the rearend portion of the base I for controlling the electric motor 8.

Extending slidably through the base I, at a point forwardly of theswitch I4, is a vertical threaded post I5, as shown to advantage inFigure 1 of the drawings. The reference numeral I6 designates a leverwhich is pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the base Ibetween the 40 post I5 and the cutters I3. At its forward end, the leverI6 is operatively connected to the lowermost flange 9 of the frame l, asat I1. At its rear end', the lever I6 terminates in a fork I8 which isengaged in an annular groove formed in the lower portion of an adjustingnut 20 which is threaded on the post I5. The lower face of the base Ihas formed therein a recess or socket 2I for the reception of asubstantially convex or rounded head 22 on the lower end of the 50 postI5. Mounted on the base I and rising therefrom is a housing 23 whichencloses a coil spring I9 and through which the post I5 slidablyextends. The coil spring I9 encircles the post I5 and has one endengaged with the top of the housing 23 and its other end engaged with anabutment 25 on the post I5 for yieldingly urging said post downwardly.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing, particularly to thoseskilled in the art to which said invention pertains. When the electricmotor 3 is energized, the horizontally rotating, overlapping cutters I3,operating through the opening 3, imp-art to the work an exexceedinglysmooth surface as the device is moved thereover. When the plane isengaged with the work under the usual slight pressure the post 5 isforced upwardly against the tension of the spring I9 in a manner topositively project the cutters I3 through the opening 3 to cuttingposition. When the plane is lifted out of engagement with the work, asduring the return stroke or movement, the spring I9 actuates the post l5to lowered position, thus elevating the cutters I3 to retracted orinoperative position, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, forpreventing marring of the work. Through the medium of the nut 2S thecutters I3 may be manually adjusted as desired. By substituting grindingwheels for the cutters I3 on the shafts lil and l l the tool may besuccessfully used on materials other than wood, such as metal, stone,concrete, etc., also for removing paint'` It is believed that the manyadvantages of a power plane constructed in .accordance with the presentinvention will be readily understood, and although a preferredembodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to beunderstood that changes in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fallwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed isz- A plane comprising a base having an opening thereinand further having a socket therein, rotary cutters mounted for verticalmovement of the base and engageable with the work through the opening, ahousing mounted on the base, a vertical post extending slidably throughthe base and the housing, a substantially convex head on the lower endof said post'l engageable with thework for elevating said post, thesocket in the base being for the reception of said head, an adjustingnut threadedly mounted on the post, a lever pivotally mounted, at anintermediate point, on the base and having one end operatively connectedto the cutters and its other end operatively connected to the adjustingnut, said lever onstituting means for connecting the cutters to the postand to the adjusting nut for raising and lowering said cutters, and aspring in the housing operatively connected to the post for yieldinglyurging said post downwardly for elevating the cutters when the plane isdisengaged from the work.

GUS HEIM'SATH.

